These aspiring footballers were part of the 30
finalists scouted from the first-ever Nike Chance Africa trials hosted in Cape
Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Algeria and Senegal. The five finalists were selected from over
1,000 hopefuls that attended trials at the Nike Chance Africa football talent
search during December and January. The unique global talent search is fast
becoming the platform to unearth phenomenal footballers who are unassigned and
fast-tracking them into professional structures.
Head coach Shawn Bishop, who is Mamelodi Sundown’s
head of youth development and technical director of coaching, was supported
during the trials by renowned football coaches and specialists including Shaun
Bartlett, Arthur Zwane, Wendell Robinson and Elsa Storm.
Final deliberations concluded an intense two-day trial
hosted at the inspirational Nike Football Training Centre Soweto this weekend
where international ex-footballer Benni McCarthy also provided support to the
coaching team in selecting the winners. The core team monitored the overall
discipline and determination of the players.
Other factors that were closely assessed were speed, agility, endurance
and tactful play during drills and small sided games.
“The Nike Chance has been an amazing initiative to be
a part of. The boys have shown a tremendous amount of talent this weekend. We
are proud of every one of them but the top five selected really demonstrated
phenomenal football skill. We wish them
everything of the best in the final round,” says head coach, Shawn Bishop.
Commenting on his achievement, Waylan Rooi from
Johannesburg, South Africa said, “We’ve followed guys like David Titi Accam and
Reyaad Pieterse and seen how the Nike Chance has given them the platform needed
to realise their football dreams. I gave it my all in these trials and now that
I’ve been one of the five chosen, it brings a feeling that I cannot
describe. I’m just so happy. I know that
there is a lot of hard work ahead but I’m ready to give of my best.”
“The Nike Chance tournament has been immensely
successful and represents Nike’s on-going commitment to the development of
African football from grassroots level. It is through initiatives like the Nike
Chance and the world class Nike Football Training Centre Soweto, that we are
able to help nurture talent and shape football stars of the future,” says
Seruscka Naidoo, Communications Manager of Nike South Africa.
The five young footballers now eagerly await their
trip to the Nike Academy at St. George’s Park in the United Kingdom, where up
to 60 international finalists will attend the Global Showcase in the hope of
earning the 1-in-5 spot in the UK-based Nike Academy. Being a part of the Nike Academy enables
these aspiring footballers the opportunity to compete against the top UK
academy teams, where scouts and agents are always on site at matches, in search
for talented footballers.
